Operating means for station indicators



July 13, 192s.

- 1,592,485 v. P. GAMBOA OPERATING MEANS FOR STATION INDICATOR S Filed March 12. 1925 2 slums-sheety 1 l n l @Hoang July 13 ,1926. 1,592,485

v V. P. GAMBOA OPERATING M EANS FOR STATION INDICATORS Filed March 12. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1; VZ? Gamba@ Chrome cover casing heilig shownin Patented July 1926.

narran srAri-:sl Param ortica.

VICENTE rERALns GAMBOA, IOFVCHIGAGO, ILLINOIS.

. OPERATING MEANS FORSTATION `INDICATORS.y .i

. Application ledgnarehfiz, 19275. `sei-n1 No. 15,013.

vision of track instrumentalities located in predetermined relation to the stations on the line of travel. Y

The present invention is directed/to pro-v viding a means for operating and Vcontrolling the air distributorwith aview to making the apparatus self-.contained and wholly free of any track-carried elements.v Broadly, the operating means for y tor is actuated by the` axle of a car of the train, which, through reduction gearing, compels the actuation in a selected direction of a controlling drum helical'ly disposed rib, proportionately constructed in operative length with the track length between terminal stations, with such rib interrupted at points proportionally corresponding to the respective stations whose names are to appear on the indicator. trip member operated in succession by these interruptions Vcorrespondingly shifts the cutoff to admit air pressure in the proper direction for governing the Yindicator proper.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 is a View in sidel elevation of the gearing operated by the axle of the car.v

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, the dotted outline. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the controly lingl drum, trip member, and air pipes.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionalv view ofthe saine through the line t-b.v y

Figs. Sand 6 are' similar Ysectional views of the cut-ofi" through the line c-cl, showing respectively relatively reversed positions thereof. i

Fig. 7 is a view in sectionof a car illustrating the relative arrangementsl of the various parts of the' complete station indicator apparatus'.

The improved cut-off operating means, with which this application is more particularly concerned, Vincludes spaced frames 1 the air distribn- Vhaving an exteriorly AKV 21 1s operated.

having split bearing sections kto be mounted around an axle 2 of the truck wheels, bolts y 3 and tie ylinks 4 and rigid yspaced relation. A driving gear 6,

'5 holding the framesin Y.

preferably formed in ,halves`,is rigidly secured to the vaXle 2 and operates ythrough reduction gearing indicated `generally at 7 i to drive the inal gear 8 at a reduced speed.

A. bevel pinion 9'isl secured upon the shaft 10 n of the gear 8 and meshes with a bevel pinion 11 secured upon the lowerfend of an operating shaft 12, rotatably supported in the linkA i 5 andV in a bracket 13 secured to one Y of i the frames. The operating mechanism described is preferably inclosed in a dustproof casing 14, shown in dotted outline.

The controlling mechanism of the Voperating means includes av ,base 15,

suitably mounted on an appropriate part of f the car structure, from which base extends a cylindrical member l16, ,having an interior partition 17, formed with a central bearing opening,the interior surface 18 of the member 16 being thickened adjacent the free edge thereof and formed with threads 19. Mounted in the bearing Yopening of the partition 17, is a` hollow shaft 20, which on .one side of the partition iskformed with aobevel gear 21, i

a collar 22 engagingthe bearing opening in the partition 17 ink opposition to the gear to hold the shaft 2O against other thanrotative` movement. .Adriveishaft'23 is mounted fory rot-ation and relative longitudinal 'adjust-l `ment in partitions of the controlling mechforming part i anism, and on this shaft are fixed opposing bevel Y longitudinal,adjustment of the shaft, may bey caused to engage with and actuatethe lbevel gear 21, therebypermitting selection as to the directionin which rthe ,bevel gear The upper end of the shaft 23 extends through a threaded nipple having connection with an appropriate enlargement of the up.-

per supporting,partition and terminating in a `knurled disc head 26. The shaft passes through this headkand is upper end with an enlarged washer 27 bearing on the head and ysecured by screws 28 to the shaft.k Obviously, by turningthe pinions 24 and 25, either of which, by-

vprovided at its knurled head 26, shaft 23 may be adjusted j longitn dinally` to bring' eitherfpinion 24 or o 25 into driving cooperation with the gear 21. A set screw 29 maintains the adjusted position ofthe shaft. l`hekcshaftr23is operatedv from the shaft 12 'through the medium et a flexible shaft section 30 (see Fig. 7) terminating in a rigid section 31 which seats in a hollow enlargement at the lower end ot' the sha'lt 23 and is provided with a pin 32 cooperating witha longitudinal slot 355 in the enlargement.. ri`hus the driving action is maintained while tree .adjustability is iermitted the shaft A drum 34 is mounted tor cooperation with the cylindrical member 16, this drum having a spel-:ed outer end and being open at the inner end. The drum has an axial rod 35 which slidably seats in the hollow shaft 20, and is 'held against independent rotation therein and at thesame time permitted independent longitudinal movement through a pin and slot connection indicated at 36. The drum is exteriorly formed or provided with a rib 37 arranged in the form of a solenoid or thread tor 7cooperation with the threaded formation 19 ott-he member 18, so that as the bevel gear 21 is operated, the drum is gradually ted into or out of the member 18, in accordance with the direction of rotation of such gear. The rib 37, aside from the initial turns thereof necessary to maintain the cooperation ot the drum and cylindrical member 18, is ot a length bearing a direct proportion to the length ot' traclrage between the terminal stations or" the cars travel. This rib 37 is interrupted by depressions or cut out portions at determinate intervals, thereby providing a series ot projections 88 which will be hereinafter termed trip projections. The successive projections are spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between successive stations on the particular traclrway, this spacing having oi' 'course the proportion to the actual distance between stations as the tull length of the operative phase of the rib has to the total length ot the traclway. Thus there is a trip projection Jfor each station throughout the length ot traclrway being covered, and these trip projections serve, in a manner now to be described, to control the operation 01"' the air distributor of the indicator.

rlhe air distributor shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6, comprises acasing 39 in which is mounted a cut-ott 40 in the form of a cylinder recessed at diametrically opposed portions to torni channels 41 and 42. Pipe sections 43, 44, 45, and 46, lead from the casing 39, through appropriately formed ports. The pipe 43 serves as an inlet to admit air from a suitable pressure tank 47 carried on the car; the pipes 44 and 45 serve as service pipes to permit air under pressure from the pipe 43 to be delivered to the indicator proper tor the successive operation thereof; while the rpipe 46 serves as an exhaust of the indicator pressure, and, as described in the application above referred to, serves to deliver the exhaust Vair to the audible alarm tor attracting attention to the change ot indicator. Thus with the position ot the cut-oli' indicated in Fig. 5, the service pressure will be delivered to the indicator through the pipe 45, and exhausted trom the indicator through the pipe 44; while in the reverse position of the cut-off, the service pressure is delivered through pipe 44. and exhausted through pipe 45. rlhe lcut-oit has thus 'two operative positions, and it is to operate such cut-oit to these positions in succession that the trip projections are provided.

The casing 39 is mounted adjacent a fixed partition 47, (see Figs. 3 and 4) supported by two arms 48 from the base 15 ot the controlling mechanism, a sha'lt 49 ot such cutoii being mounted in the partition and in the casing and provided on one side thereof with a fixed pinion 50. A trip member is swingingly supported upon a Vpinf51 threaded into the partition 4? above the pinion 50, thelower portion ot this trip member being in the form ot a gear segment 52 directlyv cooperating with the pinion 50. A weight 53 is secured to the segment to normally maintain the trip member in vertical position. That portion ot the trip member above the pivot pin 51 is formed as spaced plates 54 adapted to receive the rib 3T between them, a roller 55 being mounted between these plate portions to permit each trip projection 38 to move the trip member laterally and thereby through the segment 52 and pinion 50 swing the cut-oit' to one position. As the trip projection passes by the roller, the trip member returns to normal position by means of the weight 53, thus moving the cut-olil to the remaining position.

The controlling mechanism hereindescribed is inclosed in a dust-prooi boxing 56, having` its front wall as a hingedly door to permit access to the interior.

F rom the application above referred to, it will be understood that the respective positions ot' the cut-oftl are for the purpose oi controlling the admission ot air under pressi'ne to the indicator proper, one such position causing the admission ot air to operate the indicatorl tape to display the name ot the next station, the other position admitting air under pressure to operate means for concealing the name ot the station disclosed. Thus the positions ot the cut-oit are both active so tar as the operation ot' the indicator is concerned but only one ot suchpositions directly actuates the tape :tor the display of the name of the station. lith the present construction, it is designed that the swinging `ot the trip member through appropriate cooperation therewith ot a trip projection so operates the cut-oli' as to advance the names bearing tape to display the name of the station being approached, the reverse position ot the cut-oit due to the means for return of the trip member to normal posi-- tion under the action of the Weight, serving to admit :air to the indicatorto operate the concealing the name oi" the station justr displayed.` As the drive shaft 23 is longitudinally adjustable tov control the direction of feed of the controlling drum, it is first necessary toy adjust the shaftto operatev the gear 2l in the proper and direct the air under pressure to the in-.

dicator proper for the purposes'of moving the indicating tape and displaying the name of the station being approached. `As the particular trip `projection rides by the trip member, the Weight returns the trip member to normal position, the cut-oft` is voperated through the reverse position,.theconceal ing means of the kindicator is operated, .and thev parts are ready to display the name of, the next station vbeing approached, as the car nears such station. y f Y Obviously, the drinn may be` fed in either -direction in Vaccordance ivith the adjustment P of the shaft 23, so that with the apparatusdescribed, when the trainreaches the terminal station and the parts are to b e vadjusted flortlie return trip, theparticular car is not turnedfor such returnv trip but .merely travels in the reverse direction, no

setting is necessary, as the reverse 'movement et the car axleY provides the necessaryfreverse movement of the parts. If, however, the car is turned for the reverse travel, the braleman Vor other authorized personnvill simply adjust theshaft 23 to cause driving cooperation oit' the previously idle pinion 24 or as the case may be, andthus secure the necessary reverse movement of the parts.

In order to provide anapplication of the mechanism which Will best serve the convenience of the passengers on the car, it is preferable, though such forms no .particular part oi' the present invention, to havek the indicator proper movable from one endof the coach to the other, so that passengers can get the indication right at front, in both directions the coach travels. It is also a matter of convenience to have the audible alarm secured to the middle part of the coach, so that people sitting at the ends can get a loud calling of'attenti'on. In the case oi a group of coaches forming a train,

it would be advisable to apply the operating device but in one of them and to extend direction. As vthe Yand mechanism connected land an operator directly the piping through the rest of the passenger in the passenger traina coac.hes,.wliich means considerable economy Onaccount of all :these reasons combined,`

the most convenient installation system Would be the one illustrated inFig. 7, in

`which A. is the speed reducer, B is kthe air distributing means,C is the indicator *prop-A er, and D is the audible alarm. The inlet.

pipe 48 receives theair fromtlie reservoir 47, goes by beneath the licor, and through it, to connectivith the airfdistributor B. The feeding pipes 44 andl 45 go upwardto con-y nect with the-indicator C and entendv downward through the floor lto connect Wit-litho transcoach pipes 44a and 45a. end of the coach, branches 44" and 45b derive from. 44a and 45a, and go upwardly through .the iioor to connect 'With the same indicator C when changed to this oppositeend ot' thev coach. Rubber `hose'sections 44, 45C, 44 and 45, are provided to facilitate easy and quick connections to the indicator, b 7 means ofv pressure brooch. unions secured tothe ends of these hoses. The outletfpipe 46 bends doivnand goes through theioor-to connect withr ther transcoachoutlet pipe 46%A At the middle of the coach a branch pipe 461 derives from 46a and goes upward, through the iioor, to yconnect ywithth'e audible alarm D. All

three transcoach pipes 44a, 45a, and 46, are' provided with rubber hose sections 44d, 45

and 46, to connect yby Well known meansv with the respective transcoach pipes of the coach or coaches next to the one having the indica-tor operating means. It rWillbe oi? course apparent that but little pressure is At theopposite ico necessary to operate the parts of the indin cator, hence the pipes of the' system .can be of a very smallv caliber. i

lVhat Iclaimisz.y f l. Astation indicator to compressed air, a" admission of air to such indicator, and means directly operated by a moving part k.of the vehicle on `which the indicator is mounted for periodi cut-oit. f v

The combination with a. passenger cai, of an a cut-ott'V ttor controlling the n befoperate by cut-oil1 -tor controlling the` n air operated station 'indicator thereon,

air adinission'to ally and directly operating the i the indicator, means operated by the caraxle,

to, a rcontrolling drum to be operated in the Vmovementot a passenger vehicle, and a meinvto the cut-oila `and y ber connected to the cut-ott and directly operated by the drum for periodically actuating the cut-oil'.

5. A station indicator, a. cut-oiin for controlling the admission ot an operating medi um thereto, a drinn to be operated in the movement ot a vehicle, al rib on said drum having a length proportioned to the length oic contemplated travel of the vehicle, said rib being iforined to provide trip projections proportionally spaced in accordance with contemplated spaced operations voiz the indicator, and means operated by the trip projections and directly connected to the cutoll for actuating the latter.

G. An operating means 'for air actuated station indicators including a cut-o'tl' i'or controlling the. admission ot' air to such indicator, said means comprising a drinn adapted for rotary and longitudinal moveinent during the travel of the vehicle, a series ot trip projections on said drum spaced in accordance with contemplated operation ol the indicator, and means to be actuated by the trio projections tor operating the cut-cti'.

7. An operating means 'tor air actuated station indicators including a cut-ott' tor controlling the admission ot air to such inc' cater, said means comprising a. drum adapted "for rotary and longitudinal movement during the travel of the vehicle, a series ot trip projections on said drum spaced in accordance with contemplated operation of the indicator, a trip member to be operated by the trip projections, and an operating connection between the trip member and cutoll.

8. An operating` means for air actuated station indicators including a cut-oilA for controlling the admission ot air to such indicator, said means comprising a. drum adapted tor rotary and longitudinal inovement during the travel ot the vehicle, a series of trip projections on said drum spaced in accordance with contemplated operation ol the indicator, a trip member to be operated by the trip projectiouaan operating connection between the trip member and cut-oli), and i ieans to return the trip member to normal position following trij'i-projection operation thereof.

9. A vehicle arranged tor track travel, a station indicator thereon, a cut-oil` for controlling` the admission oi air to the indicator, a controlling drinn having threaded connection with a lixture, means operated by the axle ot the vehicle to continuously operate the drinn during the movement ot the vehicle, and a. member carried by the cut-ott and directly actuated by the drum for the periodic operation of the cut-ott.

l0. A vehicle arranged for track travel, a station indicator thereon, a cut-oit tor controlling the admission of air to the indicator, a controlling drum having threaded connec tion with a fixture, means operated by the axle of the vehicle to continuously koperate the drum during the movement of the vehicle, the thread of the drum being interrupted to forni trip projections, and cutoli operating means actuated by the trip projections.

ll. A vehicle arranged for t lack travel, a station indicator thereon, a cut-oli' for controlling the admission of aii to the indicator, a controlling drum having threaded connection with a fixture, means operated by the axle of the vehicle to continuously operate the drum during the movement of the vehicle, the thread ot the drum being interruptedto term trip projections, the effective length o't the drinn thread bearing a definite proportion to the contemplated travel of the vehicle and the spacing between trip projections bearing a corresponding proportion to the distance between points at which the station indicator is to be operated, and cutotl operating means actuated by the trip projections.

l2. A, vehicle arranged for track travel, a station indicator thereoina cut-oil for controlling the admission ot' air to the indicator, a controlling drum having threaded connection with a tixture, means operated by the axle ot the vehicle to continuously operate the drum during the movement ot the vehicle, the thread ot the drum being interrupted to form trip projections, and a cut oli' operating trip member to be actuated by the trip projections.

i3. A vehicle arranged for track travel, a station indicator thereon, a cut-ott for controlling the admission of air to the indicator, a controlling drum havingl threaded connection with a lixture, means operated by the axle of Vthe vehicle to continuously operate the drum during the movement ot' the vehicle, the. thread oi the drum being interrupted to torni trip projections, a cut-oll' operating trip member to be actuated by the trip projections tor operating the cut-ol1 in one direction, and a weight t'oroperating the trip member and thereby the cut-oil in the opposite direction.

let. fin operating means for cut-off control airoperated station indicators, comprising a drum having a surface indication formed to present a length proportional to the length ot track between the terminal stations within the limits ot the station indicator, the surface indication otl the drum being formed at appropriate points with means to insure actuation o't the cut-oil control to thereby operate the station indicator, means for rotating the drum and at the saine time moving the drum longitudinally to thereby present the surface indications successively at a particular point, and a cutoli' carried member dir ctly actuated by the drum.

ll5. A station indicator to'be operated byv compressed air, a cut-ofi for controlling the admission of air to such indicator, al drum formed with a helically arranged series of e trip projections7 a member carried by the cut-off and directly actuated` by said trip projections insuccession, means for moving the drum to successively present the trip l projections in such predeterminedv position. 1U 16. A station indicator to be operatedby compressed air, a cut-01T for controlling the admission of air to such indicator, a drum formed with ya helically arranged series of" trip porjections, a memberr carried by the projectionsin succession, means for movingr therdrum -to Vsuccessivelyl present the tripY la cut-off and directly actuatedby said trip' 17. In combination with a passenger car, an air-operated station indicator therefor, ay cut-oit for controlling' the air admission to p the indicator, ,la ldrum adapted for rotary and aXial movement, a member carried by 25 the cut-olf and` directly actua-ted `by-the drum, and 'mea-ns operated by the carL axle fory operating the drum.

18.` In combination with a passenger car, Y an, air-operated station indicator therefor, 30 a cut-01T for controlling the` air admission to the indicator, a drum adapted for rotary and axial movement, a member carried by Y the cut-oit and directly actuated bythe ridi'um, and means operated by the caraXle ,35

i'or Voperating,the drum, said means being,- reversible to voperate the drum 1n either d1- Vrection at will.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. VICENTEv PERALES GAMBOA; 

